Introduction to Dragonflight
On April 19, 2022, Blizzard Entertainment announced the ninth expansion for World of Warcraft: Dragonflight. With its beta version released on September 1, the expansion stirred a variety of reactions among players, ranging from skepticism to cautious optimism and excitement. This guide will delve into the new features and changes that await adventurers in this thrilling addition to the World of Warcraft universe.
New Lands: The Dragon Isles
The Dragon Isles have returned to the map of Azeroth, lying north of the Eastern Kingdoms and east of Northrend. These ancestral lands of the dragonflights, once devoid of magic after the Sundering, are now reawakening. As a player, this is where your new journey unfolds.
Zones of Dragon Isles
The Dragon Isles consist of four primary zones, each with its unique environment and challenges:
Waking Shores – A wild land home to the red and black dragonflights, teeming with elemental magic.
Ohn’ahran Plains – A lush realm of grasslands belonging to the green dragonflight and the Maruuk Centaur.
Azure Span – Icy territories dominated by the blue dragonflight.
Thaldraszus – A breathtaking region filled with caves and mountains, where the Dragon Aspects and the bronze dragonflight guard the timeways.
World Bosses and Loot
Each of these areas hosts formidable world bosses. Although the loot currently has a placeholder value of 280 item level, this is expected to change. Below is a list of the bosses with their corresponding loot:
BossLootBasrikron, The Shale WingEarthspeaker's Brooch, Belt of Living Earth, Stony Cragwalkers, Petrified Bracelets, Hardened Shale BreastplateLiskanoth, The FuturebaneFrosted Scale Drape, Frozen Footwraps, Glacial Bindings, Horns of the Futurebane, Icebound GirdleBazual, The Dreaded FlameSmoldering Sulfuron Signet, Magmatic Vestments, Cinderfang Wrap, Basalt Brood Stompers, Shackles of the Dreaded FlameStrunraan, The Sky’s MiseryStatic-Charged Scale, Stormshale Cuffs, Tights of Twisting Winds, Storm Chaser's Waistguard, Striders of the Sky's Misery
New Race and Class Combo: The Dracthyr Evoker
Dragonflight introduces a groundbreaking addition to World of Warcraft with its first race/class combo: the Dracthyr Evoker.
About the Dracthyr
The Dracthyr is a race of humanoid dragonkin capable of shapeshifting between a dragon form and a humanoid form. While in dragon form, they can fly through obstacles but cannot change shape during combat. Dracthyr can pledge allegiance to either the Alliance or the Horde.
About the Evoker Class
The Evoker is a unique class exclusive to the Dracthyr race. Starting at level 58, Evokers dive straight into Dragonflight content with two specializations:
Devastation – Focused on dealing ranged damage.
Preservation – Oriented toward healing.
Evokers wear Mail armor and bring a fresh dynamic to the game.
Tip: If you're interested in maximizing your Evoker's potential, check out our comprehensive Evoker Guide.
New Casual Feature: Dragon Riding
In Dragonflight, players have the unique opportunity to ride and customize dragons. This feature allows you to bond with various Dragon Riding mounts, such as the Drake, Wyvern, Proto-Dragon, and Ptero-Dragon.
Customizing Your Mounts
Customization is a key aspect of Dragon Riding. By locating a Rostrum of Transformation and collecting special items, you can modify your dragon's appearance, including horns, tail, and colors. These customization items are scattered throughout the Dragon Isles.
Mechanics of Dragon Riding
Unlike traditional flight, Dragon Riding is momentum-based, requiring players to balance speed and gravity. As you progress, you can enhance your dragon's abilities, making it easier to maintain flight and speed. The Dragonriding talent tree, unlocked early in the expansion, offers various upgrades to improve your riding experience.
Note: Dragonriding is available from the start of the expansion, so you can enjoy this feature without having to reach the maximum level.
New Factions and Reputation
The Dragon Isles are home to four major factions:
Dragonscale Expedition
Maruuk Centaur
Iskaara Tuskarr
Valdrakken Accord
Unlike previous expansions, Dragonflight replaces the reputation system with a Renown system similar to that in Shadowlands but improved. Players can earn Renown for all factions simultaneously, progressing at a more enjoyable pace with frequent rewards.
Earning Renown
You can gain Renown through various activities:
Daily quests (75 Reputation per faction)
Weekly quest: Making a Name (200 Reputation for all factions)
Participating in events like Primalist Invasions or Centaur Hunts
You'll need 1000 Reputation points to achieve one Renown level, with each faction having a different maximum Renown level.
New Endgame Content
Dragonflight Dungeons
Dragonflight introduces eight new dungeons, alongside the return of four old favorites from previous expansions. These dungeons will be accessible on Normal, Heroic, and Mythic difficulties.
New DungeonsOld Dungeons (Mythic+ only)Ruby Life Pools, Brackenhide Hollow, The Nokhud OffensiveHalls of Valor, Court of StarsThe Azure Vault, Neltharus, Uldaman: Legacy of TyrShadowmoon Burial Grounds, Temple of the Jade Serpent
New Raid: Vault of the Incarnates
The new raid, Vault of the Incarnates, features eight challenging bosses, concluding with Raszageth the Storm-Eater. The raid introduces a revised item level gear system, with rewards increasing depending on the boss's difficulty.
Class Tier Sets
Primalist Class tier sets, inspired by elemental proto-dragons, are also part of the raid. These sets include bonuses for wearing multiple pieces, enhancing your character's power significantly.
Group Loot System
Dragonflight reintroduces group loot in raids, offering a shared loot pool for players to roll on, promoting teamwork and fair distribution among raiders.
Talents Rework
The talent tree system has been overhauled to provide more flexibility and accessibility. Players now have two talent trees: one for the class and another for the specialization. This system allows you to save, share, and switch builds effortlessly, with changes implemented at no cost.
New Talent System Features
Starts at level 10, with points allocated to each tree alternately
Unlock talents sequentially, with dependencies on previous nodes
Save and import builds for easy swapping
Edit individual talents without resetting the tree
Professions Rework
Professions in Dragonflight have received significant updates to enhance crafting and specialization.
Crafting Orders
If you lack the necessary skills to craft an item, you can now place crafting orders for other players to fulfill. This system enables collaboration and access to a broader range of crafted goods.
Recrafting and Specializations
Recrafting allows players to improve Dragonflight gear by using specific reagents, resulting in higher-quality items. Additionally, players can earn specialization points to excel in their chosen fields, producing more powerful and unique items.
Profession Gear and Stats
Dragonflight introduces profession gear, which aids in crafting tasks without occupying inventory space. Players can also focus on secondary stats like Inspiration, Resourcefulness, Multicraft, and Crafting speed to enhance their crafting efficiency.
Tip: Utilize crafting tables located at the Valdrakken hub to interact with other crafters and refine your skills.
Updated WoW UI
The user interface in Dragonflight has been revamped, offering a cleaner and more modern aesthetic. Key updates include larger health bars, customizable HUD elements, and improved player portraits and loot windows. These changes aim to enhance the overall player experience.
Other Dragonflight Changes and Novelties
Dragonflight brings several additional changes and exciting features:
Level cap increased to 70
Experience requirements reduced by nearly 60% for levels 1-60
NPC zoning options in taverns
New Dockmaster NPC at Stormwind Docks with boat arrival indicators
The introduction of ducks, adding charm and potential new interactions
Dragonflight System Requirements
With enhanced graphics, Dragonflight requires updated system specifications:
Minimum RequirementsRecommended RequirementsMemory: 8 GB, Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970, CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K, File Size: 128 GB, OS: Windows 7Memory: 16 GB, Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K, File Size: 128 GB, OS: Windows 10
Note: Ensure your system meets these requirements to enjoy a smooth gaming experience in Dragonflight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new starting level for Evokers?
Evokers start at level 58, allowing them to jump straight into Dragonflight content.
Can Dracthyr choose any class?
No, Dracthyr can only be Evokers, and the Evoker class is exclusive to the Dracthyr race.
How does Dragon Riding differ from traditional flying?
Dragon Riding is momentum-based, requiring players to manage speed and gravity, unlike traditional flying, which is straightforward.
How is Renown different from the reputation system?
Renown allows players to progress with all four factions simultaneously, offering frequent rewards and a more engaging experience compared to the traditional reputation system.
What changes have been made to the WoW UI in Dragonflight?
The UI has been modernized with larger health bars, customizable HUD elements, and updated player portraits and loot windows, providing a cleaner aesthetic.
What are the system requirements for Dragonflight?
The minimum requirements include 8 GB memory and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 graphics card, while the recommended settings are 16 GB memory and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card.
What are some new features in the professions system?
New features include crafting orders, recrafting, profession gear, and specialization points that enhance crafting efficiency and item quality.
What is the level cap in Dragonflight?
The level cap has been increased to 70 in Dragonflight.